We check in with people at each stage of the cash transfer process to see how things are going. Take a look at some of their stories as they appear here in real-time.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($442 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I used to operate a small shop where I sold cereals to the community some years ago, which came to a close when I had to spend all the money I had on paying school fees for my children. The business was helpful since the proceeds would always put a meal on the table. Even though I don't have enough money at the moment, I am contemplating restarting it again in the future.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I am thankful for the support from GiveDirectly, which brought various changes to me and the other households in the village. I have a friend who had a small house before receiving the first transfer, but surprisingly she has changed a lot after constructing a new home and bought a piece of magnificent furniture for the house. Money solved individual problems and we are always thankful to GiveDirectly. Everything was well organized and no one ever talked ill about the approach since we all received what they promised.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had a heifer before receiving the first transfer and spending on milk had been a norm for my family. The receipt of the second transfer presented an opportunity to change this after buying a lactating cow at KES 40000. Since then, my family of seven has been happily enjoying a plentiful supply of milk for our domestic use and surplus for sale. I spent the remaining amount on buying dry maize grains and other foodstuffs for my family of seven.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($481 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I had my phone on my hand since I wanted to call one of my friends when I received the confirmation message from Mpesa indicating that the transfer had been sent. I was at home feeding my livestock and my heart was filled with joy on seeing that. This money made me believe in GiveDirectly and its promises.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I have made a big step in life since I have been able to build a more decent house for my family. Because of this, I can stay wherever I am without worrying that our beddings would get rained on whenever it rains. In addition, my family has enough food that will last us for some time and this has given me peace of mind while I continue with my daily hustles.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
It has always been my dream to build a more decent house for my family since the one we had was small, old and the roof usually leaks during the rainy season. I depend on subsistence farming and the little amount of money that my spouse usually gets from doing casual work around the neighborhood was only enough to cater to our basic needs. Because of this, we had not been able to even save up some amount to use in renovating this house. Upon receiving my transfer, I spent KES 35000 building a more spacious house and I am glad that we no longer have to squeeze ourselves in one corner whenever it rains. I spent the remaining amount on food to last us for some time and clothes for the family.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means improved housing in the family. We are currently living in an old house built 16 years ago and the materials used to build it have started to rot and the roof is leaking when it rain. This has necessitated the urge to put up a better one using the transfer from Give Directly. We, therefore, intend to spend approximately KES 30,000 to construct a new one. I was excited when I learned that Give Directly was coming into our village because I know our family will soon lead a decent life.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the last 6 months, Give Directly has brought joy and happiness to our lives. When we heard that Give Directly was coming to our village, nothing could hide our joy because we knew that our problems will soon drown. Being a Give Directly beneficiary is a dream come true to me and as a family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
A prolonged period of drought has been the biggest challenge we are currently facing. We have 0.3 acres of land in total but the one under cultivation is 0.1 acres. In this 0.1 acres of land, we have grown maize solely for domestic use. Initially, we used to harvest at 2 bags of it but due to prolonged drought and maize necrosis disease, getting at least half a bag is an uphill task. Since we entirely rely on maize as a staple food, I feel sad that we have failed to get an alternative food to grow.
